Repairs mark unprecedented year with more than $4.5m in repairs
for NYCHA properties

Today, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Brian Honan and City Council Member Ritchie Torres announced that, as part of an increased investment in NYCHA by the City, the sidewalks outside of Parkside Houses in The Bronx were repaired.

“We are thrilled sidewalks at NYCHA properties in all five boroughs are undergoing much needed repair and I’m happy to add Parkside Houses to that growing list,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “This is a win that benefits thousands of Parkside Houses residents as well as those who pass through this busy commercial and residential area.”

“For too long, Parkside Houses’ sidewalks were ranked the worst in all of NYCHA’s housing stock. These newly repaired sidewalks, made possible by increased City funding, will provide safer streets for hundreds of residents, said City Councilmember Ritchie Torres of The Bronx. “I am proud to have worked with the Department of Transportation and NYCHA to bring these necessary repairs and hope similar work will be done in a timely manner at other NYCHA developments where repairs are needed.”

“Thanks to the City’s increased investment for sidewalk repairs in NYCHA developments, the residents of Parkside Houses now have safer passageways,” said NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly. “These physical improvements are in line with our NextGeneration vision of making our developments safe, clean and connected communities.”

“New Yorkers do more walking than anyone else in the country and it’s imperative that our defective sidewalks are replaced and maintained to prevent pedestrian injuries,” said Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx). “I thank the Department of Transportation for these much needed improvements at Parkside Houses and for their commitment to making sure residents have safe sidewalks on which to walk.”

“I am delighted to see the newly repaired sidewalk at Parkside Houses,” said Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj. “Thank you to Councilman Torres and Commissioner Trottenberg for your successful efforts to make the needed repairs. I know this was a long awaited project by many of the residents, and it is comforting for all of us to know that they can finally be at ease knowing that cracked and disheveled sidewalks are a thing of the past.”

DOT began repairs to the crumbling sidewalk outside of Parkside Houses on September 9, 2015 and completed the repairs by September 15, 2015. The repairs included 11,180 square feet of new concrete sidewalks, 643 linear feet of new concrete curb, 352 linear feet of new steel faced concrete curb and upgraded one corner with pedestrian ramps. The total cost of the project was an estimated $132,230.

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s budget, revealed this past Spring, more than doubles the City’s investment in sidewalk repairs, from $20 million to $46 million annually over the next four years. This provides additional resources to the DOT to address sidewalks outside of 1, 2, and 3 family homes and make additional repairs to City properties, such as NYCHA.

As a result, DOT will be tripling its annual commitment to NYCHA properties from $1 million to $3 million over four years. Working closely with NYCHA, DOT makes repairs to sidewalks from a list of priority properties identified by NYCHA. DOT recently completed repairs at the Glenwood Houses in Brooklyn, Ravenswood Houses in Queens and Morris One in The Bronx. In recent years, the City has repaired sidewalks on 44 NYCHA properties, including at the Sotomayor Houses in The Bronx, Jefferson Houses in Manhattan, Astoria Houses in Queens, and South Beach Houses in Staten Island. DOT has already completed $2.3 million in sidewalk repairs at NYCHA properties this construction season and is expected to complete another $2.2 million in repairs.

Improved and safer sidewalks without defects provide a much safer passageway to all New Yorkers, whether they are walking or using a wheelchair. The DOT oversees more than 12,000 lane miles of sidewalks citywide. For more information about DOT’s work, please visit www.nyc.gov/dot.

Before and after photos of a section of sidewalk repair at Parkside Houses in The Bronx.